Welcome. At Loaves, Fishes & Computers, we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes view. We feel this will better inform you and offer a bit of transparency into our non-profit. Feel free to call us should you have any further questions and ask for Christian. We'll be happy to discuss LFC with you!
LFC Current Statistics (as of 4-21-2017):
- 1,500+ volunteer hours produced/month.
- 15-30 volunteers/day.
- 48 computers distributed/month.
- 1,600 lbs./month equipment reused locally that would have otherwise been discarded.
- 150 hours 1-on-1 technical assistance & computer repair/month by volunteers.
- Serve an average of 174+ low-income clients/month through technology or technology assistance/computer repair.
- 60% of clients we serve come from Salinas.
- 98% of clients we serve are low-income.
- Functional Expenses
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- 2017 Fiscal Year Budget
- 2016 Year End Financials
Here's a quick recap of 2016-2017:
- Provided 425 computers at low-cost or no-cost to local individuals and families at 4.9 ppl/family.
- Served 2,089 people through technology or technology assistance/computer repair.
- Refurbished, repurposed and distributed nearly 7.5 tons of computer equipment locally.
- 208 Volunteers gave over 18,057 hours to provide computers, technical assistance and much needed help, while learning hands-on computer training or office administrative skills to guide them in new education and job opportunities!
- Continue a collaboration with ITAP, a Monterey County Office of Education Alternative Education Program. HS students shadow LFC volunteers in technology, administration and client relations.
- Teaching Salinas City Elementary School District’s families how to use Chromebook computers to facilitate a higher literacy rate.
- Hired our long-time refurbishing manager volunteer as a 30 hours/week paid employee (thanks to a grant from the CRT Settlement Fund)
- Recently Awarded Grants (For 2017+)
- Monterey Peninsula Foundation for $20,000/year for two years
- Community Foundation for Monterey County for $22,000
- Cy Pres Fund, CRT Settlement Fund for $32,500/year for two years
- Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation for $12,000 for one year
- Monterey County Gives! 2016-2017, ~ $22,000 for one year
Here's a quick recap of 2014-2015:
2014 was a pretty remarkable year for Loaves, Fishes & Computers, and we achieved significant accomplishments that not only will directly benefit many of our disadvantaged yet deserving low-income neighbors.
- 374 computers sold at low-cost ($69+).
- 103 computers donated.
- 2089 people served through technology or technology assistance/computer repair.
- In October of 2015, LFC partnered up with the Dream Academy (another non-profit of Salinas), to teach 35 local high school students to refurbishing 60 computers: one the get to keep for themselves, another they provide for a low-income family in their school.
- In September 2015, LFC hired its first full-time second employee in history, as program and operations manager.
- In September 2015, LFC formed a collaboration with Monterey County Office of Education, called iTAP. Monterey County Office of Education's Alternative Education Program is now teaching (2 full time instructors) a handful of students at LFC 3 days/week in our training room in their core curriculum, and technology, in which each student then shadows an LFC volunteer for 1+ hour/day working on/building computers and helping in other general ways. We aim to replicate what Rancho Cielo is doing, but with Technology. It's a one year pilot program, and MCOE is a great partner and helping LFC in many ways. We are working on defining the program for these students to make it better than it already is, and it's moving in an exciting direction. We are really trying to put a lot of energy & love into these students that we truly enjoying having here.
- In December 2014, we were selected as “Nonprofit of the Year” in the “Salute to Small Businesses of Monterey County,” an annual program sponsored by Union Bank and KSBW TV.
- Provided 26 computers to US veterans now living in transition housing at the Veterans Transition Center in Marina, CA, made possible by more than $7,000 in individual donations and matching grant funds given to LFC in last year’s MC Gives! 2013 campaign for local nonprofits. LFC also provided credit for nine additional computers for their resident’s usage.
- We refurbished with, and donated 26 Linux laptops to homeless US veterans at Stand Down 2014 in Fort Ord, Marina, CA. The annual event is aimed at providing veterans from all over California and the nation, with meals, new clothing and supplies, access to medical and psychological care, and even legal assistance, to get veterans back on their feet.
- We up-cycled nearly 68,000 pounds of unneeded computer equipment and other technology, which was then reused locally -- by being rebuilt and repurposed within our community by our hard-working, dedicated volunteers. This doesn't include recycling responsibly with another local non-profit.
- Our volunteers gave over 7,000 hours of their time and in return received hands-on computer training or developed office administrative skills that will give them new opportunities for job placement and career paths in the future: More volunteer hours/year in LFC history.
- These volunteers refurbished nearly 500 donated computers which were then provided to low-income families, veterans, students, the homeless, the disabled, seniors, and others, giving every one of the recipients better opportunities in education, in employment, and in staying connected to friends, family, and service agencies that can help them achieve a better life.
- Signed up more volunteers than in LFC history, especially under 18 years old.
- LFC moved from the Monterey Peninsula, Monterey, CA to a 5,000-square-foot space in downtown Salinas, CA making us much more accessible to Salinas and Salinas Valley residents who can benefit the most from our programs and services.
- By its move to Salinas, CA, LFC reinforced its commitment to serve Monterey County’s Hispanic population. By producing nearly all of its marketing and outreach materials in both English and Spanish, and by also recruiting and engaging new volunteers who are bilingual we will be better able to assist EVERY client who calls or visits the LFC office or website.
- We launched a new program to design, build and deliver a unique “dual-language” PC that will enable households with family members who speak either Spanish or English (but not necessarily both) to share the use of a single computer for school homework, or employment, or connection with others. In part, made possibly by a grant received from the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
- Acquired a full time Americorps Volunteer Coordinator (funded by Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation of Monterey,CA & Wisconsin, to increase youth engagement and learning opportunities).
- LFC operates with: Five (5) Board of Directors. 1 Full Time Executive Director, 1 Full Time Americorps Volunteer, and 50 multi-culturally and age-diverse Volunteers who lead our Refurbishing, Repair, and Teaching initiatives.
